Govt goes Web 2.0 for telco tender

Using the new government domain, govspace.gov.au, the Department of Finance and Deregulation has created a blog calling for comment and a review of plans for a government panel to purchase telecommunications operational management systems.

Using the new government domain, govspace.gov.au, the Department of Finance and Deregulation has created a blog calling for comment and a review of plans for a government panel to purchase telecommunications operational management systems (TOMS).

Australian Government Information Management Office blog(Screenshot by Jacquelyn Holt/ZDNet Australia)

Included in the blog are details of the panel, which covers the integration and management of telecommunications services and some converged telecommunication/IT services.

The blog post was set up as a communication point for those in the IT industry to discuss their capabilities and raise any questions to the panel. "One of the challenges of this work is ensuring that we are asking for services that industry can actually provide. We do that by conducting market research and talking to industry and agencies. However, probity rules limit how much we can say unless we say it to everyone. Now, with the advantages provided by Gov 2.0, we can ask everyone."

The govspace blog is part of reforms based on the Government 2.0 Taskforce launched in June last year. The final report of the Taskforce advocated for more transparency and accessibility of government information.

The Australian Government Information Management Office (AGIMO), the office responsible for the panel, has also released tenders for invoice reconciliation, mobile phones and carriers, as well as internet-based network connections, all of which are in the evaluation period.